New Delhi, July 8 -- US President Donald Trump sent out the first wave of letters that threaten to impose up to 40 per cent import tariffs on countries where trade deals have not been reached yet, but suggested that he was open to negotiations to sign an agreement.

The increased duties have been pushed back to August 1, while the previous 90-day tariff suspension will end on July 9 - giving the US and its trade partners a brief window to discuss the taxes.

As promised earlier, Trump started to send out his tariff letters beginning with Japan and South Korea. A dozen more countries followed, with tariff rates reaching up to 40 per cent on a few of them. Till now, 14 countries have been slapped with the tariff letters by Trump.

The US Pr...